A SANCTUARY

When do we experience God’s protection, provision, power, and the joy of His presence in our lives? When we make Him our “sanctuary.” When we choose to live with God as our protection, provision, power, and ever present Counselor, we live with Him and in Him as our sanctuary, the “Holy Place.” In Psalm 16:11 we’re reminded of the emotional lift God’s presence has in our lives, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”

Though the first application of Isaiah 8:9-14a refers to the enemy nations of Israel, the secondary application can be applied to our personal lives. Here we find some necessary steps on how to have God as our sanctuary:

1. When is God everything you need? When you are broken and shattered.
Verse 9 begins, “Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! …be shattered! … be shattered!” The word “shattered” in the NIV is used three times in verse 9. It drives the point home that our arrogance must be shattered. When our self-will is broken, when we’re broken and hurt because of our sin, when we’re bowed before the Lord and our pride is broken – that’s when God becomes our sanctuary.

2. When is God everything you need? When you listen to God’s Word and put it into action in your life.
Verse 9 goes on to say, “Listen, all you distant lands. …” When we “do” what God says in the Scriptures, when we apply it to our lives – that’s when God becomes our sanctuary.

3. When is God everything you need? When you follow His plan for your life.
Verse 10 says, “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.” God’s purpose prevails. Discover His plan and go with it. And don’t get ahead of Him. Let Him lead – that’s when God becomes our sanctuary.

4. When is God everything you need? When you respect God as holy in your everyday thinking, talking, relating, and actions.
Verses 12-14a tell us, “… do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. He will be a holy place;” The Lord is not just a good Friend and Forgiver and Lover of our souls; He is Holy God Who is to be respected and reckoned with. And in so doing we find that He becomes our “holy place”, our “sanctuary” where we are protected, provided for, empowered, and refreshed with His constant presence.

WHERE’S THE WISDOM?

… I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2b-3 (NLT)

Jesus said,

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3

Our goal is to grow in the true knowledge of Christ. A complete confidence in Christ results in spiritual growth. I believe I speak for most of us when I say that we need more confidence in Christ, more understanding, and more wisdom and knowledge.

Where’s the wisdom? To grow in your relationship with Christ is wisdom. That’s where knowledge is. “All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Him. Those treasures of wisdom and knowledge are there waiting to be unlocked as you grow in knowing your Savior and Lord.

The increase of wisdom from the Lord in your life is proportionate to the consistency and depth of your relationship with Him.

We need His wisdom in so many areas of our lives: personal life, marriage, family, career, finances, ministry, and relationships in general. You have a choice to grow in wisdom or not. How much do you desire the wisdom of Christ? I see a great need in my life for His wisdom.

Increase your time with Christ and your wisdom will increase.